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@ewanmac
Does anyone have any experience with personal ECG monitors?
I have (currently) undiagnosed, suspected exercise induced super ventricular tachycardia and have been advised to try a personal ECG monitor to try and catch an episode in action. So far as I can tell there are several possibilities none without their drawbacks for my use case (I have made some notes on personal pros and cons below). Any thoughts or alternatives welcomed.
KardiaMobile
A little device that clips to the back of your phone, you touch the two pads to get a 30s reading. They seem to have a 1 lead (£84) and 6 lead (£125) options. Pros: cheapest option, recommended by NICE, 6-lead version may be a more detailed diagnostic tool (or may not be... who knows, I'm not a doctor). Cons: It attaches to the phone and I'm always trying to look for ways to carry less stuff not more - I hate the idea of being tied to my phone and you need the app open to use it. I think there is a high risk I'd either lose it or simply not have it with me when needed. I imagine fumbling with the app on a cold and rainy ride would be a PITA.
Apple Watch
Apple Watch series 4 and later, plus the Apple Watch Ultra have ECG capability. you put a finger on the big button and get a 30s reading. Apple Watch 9 are currently £399 and the Ultra is £799. Pros: watch mounted ECG probably maximises the chances I'll have the watch on me... but... Cons: the Apple Watch is a comparatively poor sports watch so I'd likely not wear it for running/cycling and I deeply don't want to let any more notifications into my life.
Garmin Watches
Fenix 7 Pro and other higher spec models (including epix) (£650-£750+). 30s reading via placing one finger on the bezel and another on one of the buttons. Pros: I already wear a Garmin 935 all the time and so this would be a straight swap and I'd be almost guaranteed to have it on me when needed, high quality exercise watch with lots of other features (some of which I'd use, others I wouldn't). Cons: Expensive and the ECG monitor is turned off in the UK so I'd need to find someone to buy one for me in the US and bring it over... not impossible, I have plenty of colleagues who travel trans Atlantic frequently, but a faff. Or, I just found a spoof GPS workaround.
Fourth Frontier
ECG heart rate strap acts like a regular heart rate strap but records continuous ECG during exercise. £429. Pros: continuous egg during exercise so I wouldn't need to worry about stopping to carefully and correctly activate the ECG to get a reading. This might also provide added detail about what was happening before or after an episode (but I don't know if this is useful), or record episodes that I fail to notice. Cons: it's a heart rate strap so I wouldn't have it with me 24/7 - so far all my known episodes have been during or immediately after exercise, but who knows about the future.